What’s wrong with RFK Jr.’s voice? Vocal disorder explained

President-elect Donald Trump put Robert F. Kennedy Jr. back in the news this week as he tapped the former independent candidate to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Now that Kennedy is poised to land a major new job in the incoming Trump administration, many are curious about his halting speaking style. Kennedy has a rare disorder called spasmodic dysphonia — a spasm of the vocal muscles.
Kennedy is one of an estimated 50,000 people in North America with SD, as it is often referred to, a neurological condition that creates a vocal tremble in mostly middle-aged people that usually lasts for the rest of their lives.
There is no cure, but treatments can temporarily reduce symptoms.
More:Who has Donald Trump picked for his Cabinet, officials? What to know about RFK
Here’s what to know about spasmodic dysphonia:
Spasmodic dysphonia has recently been spotlighted due to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s prominence in the Trump campaign. While the candidate has had the disorder for almost 30 years, his raspy, trembling voice has received more attention with a host of stump speeches, media appearances, and advertisements.
In an interview this spring with the Los Angeles Times, Kennedy said his voice doesn’t tire or get worse as he speaks. It just sounds like he’s always on the verge of breaking down.
To date, no known cure for spasmodic dysphonia exists. However, several forms of treatment — including speech therapy, drugs and surgery — are available to alleviate or control the symptoms of the vocal spasms on a temporary or long-lasting basis.
Dr. Andrew Blitzer, a New Jersey ear, nose, and throat specialist, developed a now-common treatment for SD that involves injecting Botox into the throat muscles to control the vocal cords, the USA TODAY Network reported. Although it doesn’t treat the neurological condition, it helps abate the symptoms for three to four months on average.
The problem has long been diagnosing the condition. Many of Dr. Blitzer’s first patients had been seen by an average of 13 doctors and other medical personnel, from psychiatrists to speech pathologists, before they were diagnosed with SD. The situation has improved now that SD is taught more in medical schools and during ENT residencies. Still, many of Dr. Blitzer’s patients come from across the U.S. and even overseas to have him treat them.
“You can make a big difference in people’s lives by giving them their voice back,” he said. “It’s such a small procedure, but it makes a big difference.”